The first hearing for the Parliamentary Inquiry into the controversial proposed UKCMRI lab took place on 9th February. MPs questioned representatives of UKCMRI and a panel opposing the plans. More below.......

The first hearing for the Science and Technology Parliamentary Inquiry into the UKCMRI bioresearch laboratory plans took place on 9th February, at Portcullis House- more information here.

Representatives of UKCMRI (Malcolm Grant, President and Provost, University College London, Harpal Kumar, Chief Executive, Cancer Research UK, Professor Sir John Savill, Chief Executive, Medical Research Council, and Sir Mark Walport, Chief Executive, Wellcome Trust) were questioned by a panel of MPs chaired by Andrew Miller MP (Labour, Ellesmere Port and Neston) with interesting results and many awkward silences from the UKCMRI panel. Questions were asked about costs, funding, proposed central London site, scale, size and risks. Representatives from St Pancras and Somers Town Planning Action were later questioned and spoke in opposition. Link here to video of the hearing.

A second hearing with Sir Paul Nurse, Chief Executive and Director, UKCMRI Ltd, Sir David Cooksey, Chairman, UKCMRI Ltd and John Cooper, Chief Operating Officer, UKCMRI Ltd, has been arranged for Wednesday 16th February in Thatcher Room, Portcullis House, from 9.15am. Link here to more information.  Link here to interactive map of Portcullis House.

BACKGROUND: The government has offered £220 million of public money towards this proposal to build a gigantic laboratory complex alongside St Pancras International Station, planned to handle "Biosafety Level 3" extremely dangerous pathogens in 79,000 square metres of building, eight storeys above ground and four storeys below ground, on land behind the British Library, at a time of brutal cutbacks. It has been approved at a Camden Council Committee meeting and Boris Johnson has approved the plans. Link here to more information on  Indymedia London website.